The National 4-H Council has launched 4-H Luminaries, an exclusive group of accomplished and influential 4-H alumni that will help raise awareness of the life-changing 4-H impact and generate support for bringing 4-H to more youth in need.
The 2017 Class of 4-H Luminaries includes Grammy award-winning artist Jennifer Nettles, NBA star Kent Bazemore, Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth, and MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin, to name a few.
“4-H gives kids the opportunity to learn by doing, to grow from not only the encouragements brought by success, but also through challenges and failures. These skills will help them to handle whatever life may throw their way,” said Jennifer Nettles, Grammy-award winning musician, actress, and 4-H national spokesperson. “No one knows this better than those of us who have experienced 4-H programs firsthand. As alumni, we want to ensure youth today are able to have the same experiences that contributed to our successes.”
The 48 members recognized in the 2017 Class of 4-H Luminaries will help fuel the growth of 4-H by committing to serve as 4-H spokespeople sharing the personal impact of 4-H, offering their expertise and access to experiences for 4-H youth, alumni, and professionals, and connecting their network for marketing, media, and fundraising opportunities to help grow the mission of 4-H.
“Whether they are running Fortune 100 companies and performing to sold-out crowds or leading community programs and volunteering to empower local youth, 4-H alumni represent the epitome of true leadership,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, National 4-H Council. “These remarkable alumni are committed to paying it forward and ensuring the next generation has the opportunity to benefit from the 4-H experience.”
4-H Luminaries is announced in conjunction with the launch of 4-H’s Raise Your Hand campaign where 4-H alumni across the nation are asked to raise their hands to support the next generation of true leaders. Every alumni hand raised is a vote towards a $20,000 award for the 4-H state with the most hands raised. To learn more about Raise Your Hand and 4-H Luminaries visit www.4-h.org/RaiseYourHand.
